With only one claw, Paralymics athlete Cato Zahl Pedersen (65) has made a big impression in “Farmen kjendis”.
At 14, his life was brutally turned upside down. Pedersen received 17,000 volts through his body after he climbed a high-voltage mast and fell nine metres. The injuries were so severe that he had to amputate his entire left arm and half of his right arm.
The 65-year-old has nevertheless managed to find solutions in life. Also on the farm, where he contributes where he can.
FARM LIFE: Cato Zahl Pedersen is grateful for the opportunity to run a farm, as they did 100 years ago. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
– The feedback has been overwhelming. I get a lot of comments that: “Cato, you are a good man, you stand your ground and are well balanced in everything that has happened”. I think that I have hardly been on TV. But it is positive. I was primarily happy to be involved and experience it all – and get good feedback, he tells TV 2.
Back to the roots
Being able to live as they did a hundred years ago, Pedersen values highly. He himself was intended to take over the family farm, but when the accident occurred back in 1973, it was the little brother who got the right to inherit.
– I was supposed to take over the farm from grandfather. At the hospital, he says, a little on two hands: “Now you have to be careful so you don’t become one of those we hid away in the past. Such a cripple. Now you have to become something and use your head, and then little brother can take over the farm.”
HARDWORKING: The 65-year-old worked from early morning to evening with work assignments and weekly assignments. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
– Then I cried, and then I thought: “Thank you,” says Pedersen in it very first program of this year’s season.
The grandfather’s words pressed 14-year-old Cato to the chest. Today, he can look back on a wild career as an athlete with a whopping 13 golds and one silver in the Paralympics, been on an expedition to the South Pole and climbed the world‘s highest mountain, Mount Everest.
SOUTH POLE: Cato Zahl Pedersen on the “Unarmed to the South Pole” expedition, together with Odd Harald Hauge and Lars Ebbesen. Photo: NTB / Knut Bry
Inside the farm, Pedersen devoted a lot of time to thinking back on his grandfather, and the farm life he himself never got to experience.
– When you get an invitation to a reality show, there’s a lot you politely decline. But this was interesting, especially because I was actually going to take over a farm, and have some insight, he tells TV 2.
GOOD EXPERIENCE: – I think it was very nice to be there and feel it, says Cato Zahl Pedersen about the “Farmen kendis” experience. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
He describes the life he lived on the farm as very similar to how his grandparents lived.
– I understand why grandfather fell asleep on the sofa very quickly, he says and laughs.
– If we were at Sunday dinner or other things, it was half past six on a Sunday, then he pulled down the blinds. I get it. After all, we were only in there for a few weeks in fine weather, while they did this all year round.
SNORTS OF COMPLAINT: Cato Zahl Pedersen snorts at those who complained about little food on the farm: – It becomes so pathetic when we are in 1924. Why can’t we be present a little and enjoy? Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
– So I was a bit in that bubble with grandfather. I should perform more in running the farm, more than performing on TV.
Found its place
Among the gang, Pedersen is not the one who takes up the most space. For him, it was important to focus on the farm tasks that had to be done, in addition to contributing to weekly assignments.
– I don’t need to surpass or try to push my way in there. But I enjoy the lovely group. It’s a colorful bunch, but I’m not the biggest splash of color around the lunch or dinner table. I primarily make an effort by running the farm, and help as best I can with the tasks.
CONTRIBUTE: Cato Zahl Pedersen contributes where he can. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
With only one claw, it sometimes became difficult for Pedersen to contribute to certain tasks of the weekly assignments. Then he instead set about what he describes as the invisible tasks.
– I experienced it just fine. Its natural. There is enough to do. The animals must be fed, watered… It is more the invisible task that is farm life.
– I became an “owl”. The person who carries and pulls, fetches planks, sorts firewood and fetches water. I think it worked for me.
TOOK OVER: After Anne-Kat. Hærland left the farm, Cato Zahl Pedersen took over her duties in the kitchen garden. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
The function battle
When TV 2 met Pedersen and the other participants on the farm, when the recording started last year, the 65-year-old was clear that there were two main motivations behind the participation – to experience farm life, and the functional struggle.
– Not everyone can do, or should do, everything, but what can I do best to fill that space? It was both about showing for myself, but above all that we look at the perspective of what we humans can do if we cooperate and take on parts of tasks.
“FATHER AND SON”: Sander Austad Dale and Cato Zahl Pedersen formed a good friendship on the farm. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
Although Pedersen, according to himself, is not the biggest splash in the group, the others listen with big ears when he tells.
Around the dinner table in Wednesday’s episode, he talks about a person who was to become important to him, when he was in hospital and had lost both arms.
– I lay in a private room and looked straight ahead at a reading board for six weeks. Then Else comes in, one of the nurses who helps me when I have to turn the page. She comes in and says, “Cato, this is too stupid. Here we fly back and forth like egrets to help you with something as trivial as scrolling through the pages”. Then I sank into the mattress, and then I thought: “Bitch, can I change you?”
– But then it didn’t take long, then she says: “But I’ll help you”. Then Else became the best lady who gave me so much, she was the one who pushed. She said, “I’ll help you find a solution.”
SPORTSMAN: Cato Zahl Pedersen competed in cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and athletics. Here from the Ridderrennet for the disabled at Beitostølen back in 1981. He won the class for the disabled under 25 years of age. Photo: NTB
When it comes to finding solutions, Pedersen is almost an expert. Despite the fact that he only has one claw, it is no obstacle for the 65-year-old. When he is asked questions about what he can and cannot do, he believes it is the wrong attitude.
– I generally feel that the basic attitude towards us humans is that as soon as you have a flaw, are a little different or have some form of obvious limitation compared to the normal, then it quickly becomes that you think generally limiting.
Pedersen imitates:
– “Oi, can you do that? How wonderful that you can do it!” It will be more of an element of surprise, more than it should be an expectation. “Can you drive? Yes, of course I can drive a car.” Cars drive themselves today, they. If you want, or love, to drive a car, you will find solutions.
– In general, it is an under-expectation. Still, for me as a 65-year-old. I would like to speak up; set expectations and demands. “You can do this, right? Can you do this? We will find a solution to that.”
SUPER-G: Cato Zahl Pedersen competed in the Paralympics at Lillehammer in 1994. Here in Super-G. Photo: Aleksander Nordahl / NTB
Inside the farm, Pedersen said from the start that if he needed help, he would. Speaking out on his own terms is important to him, but also to demonstrate his own abilities.
– That you present a bit of your ambition yourself, that you would like to help find solutions. I can help build a silo or wharf. I’m not very good at hammering, but there are a lot of angles and calculations, he says, chuckling.
SOLUTIONS: For Cato Zahl Pedersen, it is important to see solutions, rather than limitations. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
– Meet with respect
In 1998, he gave his name to CatoSenteret – a rehabilitation center for those who need specialized services. With the centre, he wants to promote opportunities – not limitations.
– You shouldn’t start thinking that you can’t. For those who are in a situation that cannot see or have no arms, are very used to being in that situation. “I expect you to find a solution to this” – that you have a more constructive approach. “You just have to let me know if I’m going to help, I’m happy to help, but I expect you to have a solution to this.” A little more offensive.
– Because there is no reason for them to say: “No, but you can’t do that, can you?”.
EXPEDITION: Cato Zahl Pedersen went on an expedition to the South Pole with Lars Ebbesen (tv) and Odd Harald Hauge. Here from the arrival at Fornebu in 1995. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB
Pedersen believes that an outsider can quickly become insecure if one does not have a reference point for how to relate to someone with limitations.
– The uncertainty results in the fact that you have no special expectations, that you are below par. Instead of saying: “You are used to being visually impaired, I expect you to be involved, or that you have an open mind. We must solve this”.
The 65-year-old admits that it is cumbersome not having arms, but that he strives to find solutions.
– That is what my life is. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t think that I would like to have two arms today. I think the best based on the situation I’m in. Then I’m on the positive side of myself.
NOT AT A MINUS: – I don’t wake up in the morning and be a minus, or think that this will be a difficult day without arms. Photo: Anton Soggiu / TV 2
– Even someone with ten fingers has ten thumbs. I expect that someone can help me with the tie, but not everyone can tie a tie, because you have no experience with it.
Became a father against all odds
Against all odds, Pedersen has won triumph after triumph. Earlier this year, he was awarded the honorary award during the Sports Gala for his efforts as a para athlete and for Norwegian sports.
– It is magnificent. It was overwhelming. It’s almost a bit of a bad idea to come to the Sports Gala to hand out an award, and then you sit and listen to who it might be. It’s almost like you don’t believe it. It is great to be honoured, he told TV 2.
His grandfather’s words, “now you have to become something”, took Pedersen seriously, and gave his all as an athlete.
In his early 20s, fully focused on his career, he made a choice he describes as egocentric.
– Sport took me. Then I met his wife during a training session. She was very interested in exercise. I was a bit too egocentric in my sports bubble and sterilized myself. An egocentric asshole of an athlete who thinks so short-term, he told the other participants in Wednesday’s episode.
ON VISIT: “Farmen kendis” presenter Dorthe Skappel visited Cato Zahl Pedersen and his wife Märtha Bertheussen before he went back in time a hundred years. Photo: TV 2
The 65-year-old also managed to beat these odds. In 1981 he married his wife Märtha Bertheussen, and in 1987 they had a daughter Erica.
– Fortunately, against all odds, a child pushes forward, and it was incredibly wonderful in life. I am happy with that, he says to TV 2.
– It is very rare that you are sterilized and have children. It is very rare that you are disabled and go to the South Pole. I’ve done a lot, and I’m very grateful for the life I’ve been given, more than I get upset and annoyed about everything I can’t do, he concludes to the other participants.
«The farm celebrity» is broadcast on TV 2 Direkte Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, and is available on TV 2 Play.